Anonymous wrote:I was obsessed after I watched it a couple weeks ago. I teach HS English and plan to include it in my Into the Wild unit to have the kids compare Chris and Alex.
IMO Alex is probably on the spectrum but that's partly why he can even do this. He is a once in a lifetime combo of the physiology and strength to be capable of cloning the way he does AND the lack of fear/unique response to fear his brain has, AND the drive and determination to do it. His girlfriend bothered me because she went into the relationship knowing this is who he was but kept trying to force him to not be that way- saying "what about me?" if something happens to him, questioning his goal, etc. it's ALEX HONNOLD. Accept this is who he is and don't try to convince him to be another way!
I mean I think going into the relationship she appeared to support what he did, but over time as they grew closer and she started to fall in love with him, I think it's only natural for her to not want him to die. I think given the circumstances and the amount of risk, she was very supportive of him. I also don't think you can fault her for voicing that she would be sad and heartbroken if he died. While she tried to show him other directions his life could go in, she seemed to try and help him and never actually told him not to do it. I think the amount of time they were together gave her every right to question why he wanted to take such a risk.